The East Palace is the palace of Prince Zhu Biao. Zhu Biao has been living here since he was established as the crown prince in the first year of Hongwu. Zhu Biao was only thirteen years old this year.
Since Zhu Biao came of age, he began to assist Zhu Yuanzhang in handling state affairs.
In fact, the relationship between most emperors and princes in history was not very good. After all, as the first heir to the throne, the crown prince will naturally pose the greatest threat to the emperor on the throne.
For example, Kangxi, who was known as the one emperor through the ages, established and deposed the crown prince, deposed and established the crown prince twice, and deposed the crown prince twice. Isn't its purpose just to prevent the crown prince from becoming big and threatening his throne? Then he pretended to say that the Crown Prince was not living up to expectations. In fact, the Crown Prince's failure to live up to expectations was not forced out by Kangxi.
But Zhu Yuanzhang's love for Zhu Biao was almost unlimited.
Zhu Yuanzhang ordered Zhan Tong to examine the official system of the East Palace in the past dynasties, and select those with meritorious moral character and mature character to lead the East Palace and tutor the prince. Among them, Prime Minister Li Shanchang on the left is also the young master of the prince, and Prime Minister Xu Da on the right is also the young master of the prince. Who is Li Shanchang? This is the boss of the civil service group. It can be said that Zhu Yuanzhang gave the civil service group to Zhu Biao. Xu Da is even more remarkable. The first person to be the founding hero is no joke.
Do you think that's it? Don't worry, in addition to the Civilian Heavenly Group, Zhu Yuanzhang also prepared the Military Military Heavenly Group for Zhu Biao.
Zhongshu Pingzhang records important military and state affairs, Chang Yuchun is also the prince Shaobao, the right governor Feng Sheng is also the right Zhanshi, the Zhongshu Pingzhang is the political affairs officer Hu Mei, Liao Yongzhong, Li Boxheng and the same magistrate Zhanshi Yuanshi, the Zhongshu Zuo and Youcheng Zhao Yong and Wang Pu also served as deputy ministers of Zhan, Zhongshu participated in politics, Yang Xian also served as Zhan Shicheng, and Fu Zhen served as minister of Zhan. They were both governors Kang Maocai and Zhang Xingzu, deputy envoys of the governor's office, and Gu Shi and Sun Xingzu, deputy envoys of the governor's office, were both governors and governors of the government. Wu Zhen and Geng Bingwen, ministers of the governor's office, also led the deputy envoys of the government. Deng Yu and Tang He, the imperial censors, also served as imperial edicts. Liu Ji and Zhang Yi, the chief ministers of the imperial censors, also praised the good officials. Wen Yuanji and Fan Xianzu, the imperial censors, were also guests of the prince. .
Tsk tsk, in this lineup, just picking out Li Shanchang, Xu Da, and Chang Yuchun is terrifying. The entire central team has been given to the East Palace.
Moreover, there is no longer any additional government officials outside the East Palace. When Zhu Yuanzhang went out to fight, the prince would supervise the country and facilitate the generals and prime ministers to assist him.
If Zhu Biao wanted the throne, he could take it away at any time.
It can be seen that Lao Zhu really trusts Zhu Biao and is not wary at all, which is unique in history.
If Zhu Yuanzhang insisted on going his own way, there were only two people in the world who could persuade him. One of them is Queen Ma, and the other is Zhu Biao.
The East Palace is also within the imperial city. As the uncle of the Crown Princess, Lan Yu can go to the East Palace without being summoned.
Lan Yu came to the East Palace to meet the prince. After the guard asked Lan Yu to wait for a while, he led Lan Yu into the East Palace.
As Zhu Biao's residence, the East Palace not only has the same solemnity as the imperial city, but also has an extra level of luxury. There are countless exotic flowers and plants in the East Palace, and ordinary people will be shocked and dazzled when they come here for the first time.
This is not to say that Zhu Biao lived a luxurious life. These things were forced by Zhu Yuanzhang to Zhu Biao. On the contrary, Zhu Yuanzhang did not have these things in his own palace and was very simple.
It's like an old farmer who always wants to give his best things to his favorite son.
This was not the first time Lan Yu had seen these scenes. She followed the guards without squinting all the way to wait outside the main hall. After receiving the guard's signal of permission, Lan Yu stepped into the hall.
I saw a young man with a Chinese character face, a black crown with gold patterns on his head, and a bright yellow python robe sitting behind a huge desk, his eyebrows lowered, and he was writing furiously.
There are a large number of memorials and documents stacked on the desk, and various petty officials are coming and going on both sides, like a revolving door.
Zhu Biao has been assisting Zhu Yuanzhang in handling government affairs since he became an adult. After so many years of experience, he has become familiar with it, so he now has to handle more and more government affairs every day.
Lan Yu stepped forward and bowed, saying: "Your Majesty Lan Yu, I would like to pay homage to His Highness the Crown Prince."
When Zhu Biao heard this, his strokes naturally slowed down. He looked up and saw Lan Yu who was bowing. He raised his hand and smiled and said, "Uncle, there is no need to be polite. Please give me a seat. Please wait for a moment while I finish processing this memorial."
"Thank you, Your Highness." After saying that, he went straight to the chair on the left and waited. A clerk offered tea at the right time, and Lan Yu was not polite and took a sip.
Well, it’s Xiaolong Tuan.
The so-called Xiaolong Tuan was the mainstream tea in the early Ming Dynasty, and its production process was complicated. First, the picked tea leaves are steamed in a pot, then crushed and fermented, and kneaded into small balls, which are euphemistically called: Xiaolong Tuan. When drinking, first bake the dragon balls and grind them into foam, then add boiling water and use a tea set to make the foam, and then drink it with the tea foam.
Because the production of Xiaolong Tuan is complicated and consumes a lot of manpower, material and financial resources, the price has always been high. It is an exclusive tea for dignitaries.
Zhu Yuanzhang, who was born as an old farmer, was disgusted with this kind of waste, so he issued an order to ban Xiaolong Tuan a few years ago, and even he couldn't resist drinking it.
But here in the East Palace, he can freely use the small dragon group to greet Lan Yu. Zhu Yuanzhang happily turned a blind eye to this, which shows his love for Zhu Biao.
After a while, Zhu Biao finished processing the memorial and waved the surrounding officials and minor officials to retreat.
Zhu Biao casually picked up a piece of silk cloth on the desk, wiped the sweat from his palms, walked to Lan Yu and sat down, also picked up a cup of Xiaolongtuan and took a sip, and said, "Uncle, I haven't come to see you for a long time." . To be honest, if uncle doesn’t come again, I will find time to see you in a few days.”
Lan Yu quickly put down the tea cup in her hand and replied with a feint of fear: "Your Highness is so concerned about me, I am deeply moved."
Although Lan Yu was a bit arrogant and domineering in front of ordinary people, he would never be arrogant in front of Prince Zhu Biao.
Zhu Biao has been familiar with Confucian classics since he was a child. He has a kind and generous personality and is very friendly to others. He has always been respected by everyone. In addition, Zhu Yuanzhang carefully trained him and assisted in government affairs for many years, and his prestige among civil and military ministers had long been established.
Seeing Lan Yucheng's frightened look, Zhu Biao comforted him in a broad voice: "Uncle is too outspoken. Although you and Gu are monarchs and ministers, they are also a family at the same time. A family does not say a word to each other."
After comforting Lan Yu, Zhu Biao turned to ask about Lan Yu's reason for coming: "Is uncle coming here to find something to do with you?"
"There is indeed something I want to ask Your Highness for help with, and it is like this..."
Lan Yu stopped being polite and told the whole story of the matter. After finishing speaking, he took out the clothes Han Du had given him from his arms and presented them to Zhu Biao.
"Your Highness, this is what that person wanted to present to Your Majesty. He said that it concerns the people of the world. I dare not make any independent opinions, so I came here to see Your Highness."
Zhu Biao took over the clothes in confusion. He didn't know why his uncle went back to help Han Shilang's son, but since it was his uncle who came here on his own, there was no harm in taking a look.
Zhu Biao opened his clothes. Although the handwriting written in human blood had dried up, the whole clothes had a strong fishy smell. However, Zhu Biao was also someone who had experienced fighting on the battlefield, so he was not at all uncomfortable with this smell. Ignoring the smell, he looked intently at the blood book.
After reading the first few sentences, Zhu Biao couldn't help but sneered. He felt that the person who wrote this bloody letter was a bit alarmist. But as he continued to read, the smile on his face began to fade.
Finally, after Zhu Biao read everything, his face became extremely solemn.
Lan Yu had not opened it and read it, but when he saw the change in Zhu Biao's expression, he couldn't help but be cautious and asked cautiously: "Your Highness, is there something wrong with this blood book?"
"There's nothing wrong with it," Zhu Biao replied to Lan Yu and continued: "Every word in this blood book is precise and reasonable, and it is thought-provoking. However, the results are not so good. What? Uncle, you personally sent this blood book. Come on, haven’t you seen it yourself?”
After speaking, he looked at Lan Yu with a smile.
Lan Yu smiled bitterly and said: "I have been studying the art of war for decades, but I couldn't even win a battle. I was completely defeated in Hongwu's five-year Northern Expedition. I don't understand people's livelihood at all. For something that concerns the people, even if If you look at it, you won’t understand it, and if you look at it, it’s in vain, so it’s better not to look at it.”
The loneliness between the words was vivid on his face.
It seems that Lan Yu is still worried about not being able to participate in the conquest of Bei Yuan. This is a knot in his heart. Perhaps this knot in his heart will only be resolved when Lan Yu defeats Bei Yuan again with his own hands.
Zhu Biao had a clear understanding in his heart and comforted him: "My uncle is brave and resourceful, and he is a famous general in the world. Now that the Northern Yuan Dynasty still exists, my uncle will definitely lead an army to conquer the Northern Yuan Dynasty again one day."
"I thank His Highness for your kind words." Lan Yu was comforted by Zhu Biao for a while, and she felt a little better and responded with a smile. But Lan Yu didn't really believe that he would be able to participate in the next expedition to Beiyuan. After all, in terms of qualifications, the older generation of generals were still there.
Seeing that the matter was done, Lan Yu said goodbye: "Your Highness, I will leave first."
"We finally met, why don't uncle have a few more words with Gu?" Zhu Biao persuaded him to stay.
"Your Highness's few words have made me feel a lot better. Your Highness is busy with government affairs, so I'd better not delay His Highness. When His Highness is free one day, I, an idler, will come and talk to His Highness again."
"Haha, okay, when I have some free time, I will have a good talk with my uncle."
Lan Yu bowed and thanked Zhu Biao, took a few steps back, turned around and left the hall.
Zhu Biao stood up and watched Lan Yu's leaving back. He didn't take the blood book back to sit behind the desk until he could no longer see it.
After much hesitation, he put the blood book in hand first, and then shouted towards the door of the palace: "Come in, everyone."
The officials and minor officials moved upon hearing the sound, walked in from outside the palace gate one by one, and continued to be busy again.
After Zhu Biao finished handling all the government affairs, he realized that his back was a little stiff, and he couldn't help but push it a few times. It felt like he then picked up the blood book and took the eunuch with him to find his father.
The place where Lao Zhu worked was called Fengtian Hall, which was originally created by Zhu Yuanzhang.
